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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria is positioning itself at the forefront of technological advancement, with a commitment to enabling innovation while safeguarding investor interests.
Speaking at the Comercio Partners H2 2025 Outlook event, SEC Director-General Dr. Emomotimi Agama emphasized the Commission’s proactive engagement with emerging technologies, including blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), and quantum computing. He noted that these technologies are shaping the future of global finance and must be integrated into Nigeria’s regulatory framework to ensure the capital market remains competitive and resilient.
“Nigeria stands at the cusp of a digital transformation,” Dr. Agama said. “We are working closely with fintech innovators, blockchain developers, and quantum researchers to create forward-thinking policies that support innovation without compromising market integrity or investor protection.”
He explained that recent global disruptions—from the COVID-19 pandemic to shifting geopolitical dynamics—have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional economic models, prompting many countries, including Nigeria, to prioritize technology-driven growth strategies.
Dr. Agama underscored the growing importance of digital economies and quantum innovation as the next competitive edge in global trade. “Intellectual property, data capacity, and technological agility are becoming key indicators of national competitiveness,” he said.
Highlighting the transformative potential of quantum computing, he described it as the “next frontier” for the financial sector. “Quantum technology will redefine how we model risks, price assets, and detect fraud—with far greater speed and accuracy than today’s systems can offer,” he said.
To ensure Nigeria’s capital market remains future-ready, the SEC is advancing regulatory frameworks that embrace tokenized assets, digital securities, and green bonds. “We aim to support a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-led financial ecosystem,” Dr. Agama added.
He called for coordinated investment in education, research, and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate the country’s transition into a digitally enabled economy. “Nations that invest in STEM education and foster government-academia-industry partnerships will lead the quantum era,” he noted.
The SEC, he said, is inviting private sector players to partner in establishing innovation hubs, piloting frontier technologies, and scaling digital infrastructure for financial services.
Dr. Agama concluded by urging Nigerian stakeholders to seize the moment. “Africa, and Nigeria in particular, has a unique opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems by adopting transformative technologies early,” he said. “The SEC is committed to enabling a regulatory environment that champions responsible innovation and positions Nigeria as a leader in the quantum economy.”
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